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Clown metaphysics A study in England recently found that 100 percent of hospitalized kids surveyed, ages 4 to 16, disliked and/or feared clowns. Are clowns jolly and funny, or sinister and weird?

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Jennifer Econopouly Ivywild School psychologist

What's the most unusual profession you've seen? I once knew a guy who lived in the streets of Baghdad as an undercover operative.

What's your preferred mode of clowning around? Skiing, hiking, playing with the dog. Clowning around is having fun.

Name someone you consider a clown. I have a friend who's always goofy and doing silly, outrageous things in public to make people laugh.

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Qiana Glaze Lake George Organic farmer

What do clowns make you think of? Clowns are awesome and fun. They make you laugh and get out of your world for a while.

Name a public figure you consider clownish. Dick Cheney. He shot his friend in the face while hunting, and some of his Middle East arguments turned out unbelievably clownish.

What job would you most like to have in the circus? I'd be a musician in Cirque du Soleil, or maybe a contortionist. That's such a beautiful thing to watch.

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Anton Krupicka Near North End Running store employee

What's the most unusual profession you've seen? Window-cleaners on skyscrapers. Are clean windows on skyscrapers that essential?

Explain clowns. I'm not sure what their purpose is, and there's many kinds. Some embody the mystical, dark, bogeyman thing, but there's also the fun, happy, warm-and-fuzzy aspect. You probably project onto them what you feel.

Name a public figure you deem a clown. George W. Bush, although he's problematic. Even if he's not simple-minded, he acts like he is.

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Mike Kenny Central Psychologist

What does a clown represent? Traditional, old- fashioned comedy. They're entertaining and engaging, and bring moments of joy.

How do you clown around? I have a plastic bowling set in the center I direct. We have a really long hallway that we sometimes bowl in. I also have a set of magnetic stacking monkeys that we shoot off with a launcher during staff meetings.

Name a clownish public figure. Doug Bruce but he's the evil kind of clown that scares kids.